2021 Ford F-150 · symptom sheet
Headlights too dim or fail
- 67owner reports
- 48,000median miles
- $2,000median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 19, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
112 of the 1,015 complaints on this car are about the exterior lighting. 67 of those describe headlights.
Tick what matches of 67 reports
Headlights on other F-150 years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2023, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Headlight complaints fall into two camps. In one, a headlight goes out, often more than once, or fills with moisture behind the lens. In the other, the lights work exactly as built and the owner still can't see the road at night because the beam is too dim or too short. Owners in that second camp often report a dealer telling them it's normal.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the headlight assembly (64 reports) and the ballast or module (6 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the exterior lighting covers the 2021 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
An over-the-air software update to the body control module (BCM) may have disabled both reverse lights.
All 29 recalls on the 2021 Ford F-150, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
What owners paid
23 of the 67 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,500 to $2,500.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 35,000 and 51,000 miles, from the 13 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice for the 2021 Ford F-150 that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Some 2021 F-150 vehicles equipped with automatic high beam control may experience the fog lamps flashing when the automatic high beam control feature is turned on, the fog lights are turned on and the vehicle is driven in dark conditions.
What owners wrote
“Driver side LED DRL light has failed. This is a common problem occuring with many people with 2021+ year models of the Ford F-150. Truck is barely outside of warranty and with 51,000 miles and should not have a failing LED DRL. Additionally, Ford has made this part unrepairable and according to the dealership closest to me will require a full headlight assembly replacement.”
Filed Jan 24, 2026 · 51,000 miles
“Both Front headlight DRL failed at 40K miles. This poses a safety risk for other vehicles on the road”
Filed Jan 16, 2025 · 40,000 miles
“Running light led strip in both headlights has gone out before 40k miles. Numerous issues with these all over the road having the same problem. Causes an issue with visibility and is unsafe. Manufacturer wants 1700 per headlight to fix.”
Filed Dec 9, 2024 · 40,000 miles
“Both daytime running lights, which also serve as part of the headlights have burnt out. First the drivers side vertical strip of the LED light went out, then the passenger side same vertical strip only. Recently, the horizontal top strip of the headlight went out too. Just happened around 30,000 miles, little past 3 years since I bought my truck”
Filed Nov 20, 2024 · 30,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 67 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 94 reports
- Driveshaft, axle or transfer case problems 85 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 80 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 72 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 64 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 51 reports
- Windshield wipers stop working 35 reports
- Fuel pump failure 31 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 30 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 29 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 26 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 25 reports